Circuit maker and breaker for internal-combustion engines



March 24, 1925. 1,530,767

J. T. GENTRY CRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES A, Fi dNov.28, 2 E@ fief' 6e 16 4 Patented Mar. 24,' 1925.

JESSE T. GENTRY, or VENTURA. CALIFORNIA.

CIRCUIT AND BIREAKER FO'R IN TERNAL-COMBUSTION ENG-1N ES.

Application l'ed November 28, 1921.

`effectively accomplished.

An object of this invention is to simplify the ignition system of Ford cars. In cars of this character there are four cylinders and four vibrating coils connected respectively to the spark plugs in each individual cylinder and an object of this invention is to eliminate the use of coils and to simplify the Ford ignition.

The invention is applicable to an engine having any number of'cylinders and spark plugs but an illustration of the same as applied to a four cylinder car will be sutiicient for a fullunderstanding of the invention.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detail description and the appended claims. Q

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the electrical connections in a device constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig.v 2 is a sectional elevation on line m2, Fi s.1,3and4.

tor.

Fig. 4 is a section on line m4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on a reduced scale, on line 11:5, Fig. 1. V

a indicates the primary and b the secondary leads to the coil box c connected by the lead Z with the magneto, not shown.

1, 2, 4, 3 indicate the primary contacts all connected with the primary lead a, these contacts are shown connected together by the wire 5 and are inXed relation to each other in a housing 6 of noneconducting inaterial. Said housing also carries in fixed relation to each other and to the primary contacts 1, 2, 4, 3, the secondary contacts l, 2, 4a, vand 3, and also a third set of con-y ig. 3 is an end elevation of the distribu' Serial No. 518,148.

tacts 1b, 2b., 4b, 3", respectively connected through plugs 1c, 2, 4c, and 3, and their leads 1d, 2d, 4d, and 3d, to spark plugs 1e, 2e, 4e, and 3e, forthe several cylinders of the engine. i

The distributor comprises a brush holder '7 having a socket 8 to set on the cam shaft 9 to which the brush holder is secured by suitable means as the set screw 10. Screw 10 is insulated by plug 10.v Said brush holder carries the three brushes 11, 12 and 13. The brush 11 making a connection between the primary winding of the coil and the-cam shaft 9 which serves as a ground-to connect up the circuit. Y

The connection between'the brush 11 and the cani shaftf9 includes a spring 1 4 set'in a brass sleeve 15 that is in contact with the brass 'sleeve 16 which alines with the socket 8 and is Xed to the end of the cam shaft 9. Three' brushes 11, 12 and '13 are practically of the same construction including the brush properL of carbon or steel, the spring 14 and the sleeve 15. This constructionA of brush, however, may be varied within the judgment of the constructor. The brushes 11, 12 and 13 arc arranged respectively to travel in diii'erent paths and brush 11 is adapted to contact successively with the primary contacts 1, 2, 4, 3, in the order just stated, at each revolution of the cam shaft and the brush carrier. The brushes 11, 12 and 13 are arranged in a commonplane radial to the cam shaft 9 and the -contacts inthe housing as 1, 1, and 1b, and are adapted to a common radius so that as the brush holder revolves and brings the brush 11 into contact with primary contact 1 the brush 12 will contact with the lsecondary contact 1a, and the brush 13 will contact with thev spark lead 1b as shown by full line Fig. 1 to cause a spark in the lspark plug connected to the plug 1c, or as indicated byv dotted position of the brushes to cause a spark in the spark plug connected v to plug 14c through contact 4, 4Ll and 4b and at each revolution of the distributor T a current will be successively directed through the plugs connected as above stated.

The contacts 1a, 2a, 4a, and 3a are connected by wire 5fl that is connected by wire 6 to a socket 7a for the plug of the secondary wire b.

The brush holder and the housing are preferably made of an electrical insulating substance such as iber or other non-conducting compositions known on the market. The Contact points are preferably segments made of brass and embedded in the insulating compositions; the intervening portions 17,

18 and '19 of which respectively constitute means for insulating the segments from each other. c Y

The housing 6 has'a cylindrical extension 2O that fits into a socket-2l in an engine crank case 22, and it is held therein by meansA- of an arm A23 that has onel end attached by stud bolt 24 to the crank case, and the other end of the arm 23 is provided With a set screw 25 thatl has a bearing end 26 fitting loosely into the socket 27 in the housing 6, by which means the housing ,6 can be rotated in the socket 21 for retarding or advancing the spark byV means of the crankl arm 28 and its usual connection to the spark lever on a steering post of a vehicle.v

Any practical source of electrical energy may be connected by Wire e to coil box lc and may comprise a magneto or battery or both,l as is Well, known in the art.

I claim:

l. A circuit maker and breaker for ignition systems comprising `primary' contacts;

said primary contacts electrically connected; secondary contacts of corresponding number; electrically connected; a set of lead con' tacts electrically connected corresponding in number and arrangement toy the primary and secondary contacts; means insulating lthe contact faces of the primary contacts from each other; means insulating the contact faces of the secondary contacts from each other; means insulating the lead `contacts from` each other; a brush holder provided'vvith a brush connected With lthe ground and adapted to contact With the primary-.contacts respectively as the brush holder revolves; a second brush arranged to vcontact with the secondary contact as the brush holder revolves; and a third brush electrically connectedfwit-h the second brush and arranged;v to contact with the lead contacts respectively, as the brush holder revolves; said contacts being arrangedin sets including secondary and leadcontacts, and

. the brushes being arranged to simultaneously and successively engage theirrespective contactsl as the brush holder revolves.

2. A circuit maker and breaker for an internal combustion engine comp-rising a nonconducting cylindrical housing 'having an open` end that isy adapted to be fitted over the timer end ofy an: engine shaft; Va closed end to said housing, saidclosed end having an interior recess that is arranged central to the axis ofthe timer shaft; primary con'- tacts in thefrecess of said end Wall electrically connected together and arranged t'o have a contact face thereofexpo'sed toward the open end of said housing; secondary contacts arranged inthe end ,Wall and electrically connected together said secondary contacts having contact faces exposed to Ward the open end of said housing; lead contacts in the annular Wall that are arranged to expose a contact face toward the axis of the timer shaft; a'brush holder secured to the timer shaft;- and spring pressed brushes arranged inl said brush holder in position to engage-said contacts when the timer is revolved.

3. A circuit maker and breaker for inr-k ternal combustion engines comprising a nonconducting housing having primary con? tacts therein that are electrically connected; secondary contacts in saidA housing thatcorrespond in number to said primary contact-s t and that 4are electrically connected and insulated from the primary contacts a set of lead contacts in said housing corresponding in number to the primary and to the secondary contacts Arespectively'and each con-v nected to itsrespective secondaryfcontact; andmeans for making and breaking contact in the primary circuit to cause flow of current' through the secondarycontacts to the lead contacts substantially as described.

4L. A vcircuit maker and breaker for in-, ternal combustion engines comprisinga non-v` conducting housing; vprimary contacts in said housing that are electrically connected and also connected to thewiring of the pri'-` mary circuit; secondary contacts in said housing that correspond in number to said primary contacts and that are; electrically connected and that are insulated from the primary contacts; a set of lead contacts in said housing corresponding in number tof the primary 'and to the secondary' contacts and spaced equidistantgapart in said housing; means for making and breaking contact of the primary circuit to cause flow of current through'the secondary contacts to the lead contacts; and means for moving said housing on its axis substantially as described. a Y

5. A circuit maker and breaker for internal combustion engines comprising a shaft; a non-conducting housing loosely supported adjacent'an end`vl of saidshaft; primary contacts in said housing that are arranged 115 equidistant yapart and connected together by Wires embedded in said housing, said`pri` tacts to interrupt the `primary circuit; and

means for moving said housing to advance or retard the spark relative to increased or decreased engine speed.

r6. A circuit maker and breaker for internal combustion engines comprising in combination with an engine casing having an annular hollow flange; a non-conducting housing, said housing having an annular flange revolvaloly itted into the annular lange` of said casing; meansy for holding said housing flange in said casing Ilange adjacent the timer end or said shaft; primary contacts in said housing' that are electrically connected; and spaced equidistant apart and arranged radially around the axis of said housing and adjacent the timer end of said shaft; secondary contacts in said housing that correspond in number to said primary contacts and that are spaced an equidistance apart and arranged in the sameaXial planes but of greater radial distance from the axis of said housing than the primary contacts and are offset therefrom, said secondary7 contacts electrically connected; a set of lead contacts in said housing corresponding in number to said primary contacts and being spaced an equidistance apart and arranged in the same axialy planes but of greater radial distance from the axis ot' said housing than the primary and secondary contacts and are oli'set therefrom, said set of lead contacts electrically connected; a revolvahle insulated brush holder adapted to he secured on the timer end ot' an engine cam shaft; and spring pressed brushes in said brush holder that are arranged to engage said contacts as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 21st day of November, 192]..

` JESSE T. GENTRY. Witness:

JAMES R. ToWNsEND. 

